Pick of the kit

Shimano RX8 shoes, £219.99, freewheel.co.uk

On paper, gravel-specific shoes fill a small niche, but in practice I’ve come to view Shimano’s RX8 shoes as the most indispensable pair I own. Shimano has done an excellent job of taking features from its road and MTB shoes to create something comparable to both, but unique in their own right.

The grippy sole tread and rugged upper material imbues the practicality and durability of a mountain bike shoe, while the stiff carbon sole and light overall weight adds road-like performance to the mix, making them comfortable and capable.